In a heartfelt proclamation, Mayor Nicole Milvat Walters recognized Richard Olin, a resident of Hills Park, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Born on November 2, 1924, Olin's life has been marked by significant contributions, particularly during his service in World War II. Drafted into the United States Army on July 1, 1943, he was deployed to Manchester, England, and participated in the D-Day operation on June 6, 1944, landing on Utah Beach.

Throughout his military career, Olin was reassigned multiple times, serving in the 3rd, 7th, and 9th Armies before returning home to South Side Chicago on February 11, 1946. Following the war, he married his girlfriend Dorothy and utilized the GI Bill to study TV Lab mechanics. Olin moved to Palos Park in the mid-1950s and dedicated 44 years to General Electric before retiring.

Olin remains an active member of the Veteran Voices Military Group and has been a guest speaker at various local events. Notably, he was invited by actor Gary Sinise to join fellow World War II veterans in France for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

In honor of his remarkable life and service, Mayor Walters proclaimed November 2, 2024, as Richard Olin Day in the Village of Palos Park, Cook County, Illinois. The mayor celebrated Olin's milestone birthday during a recent Veterans Day ceremony, where a birthday cake was presented in his honor. Despite his age, Olin remains engaged in community activities, although his granddaughter recently took away his car keys, indicating a shift in his independence.